By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pharmacology MentorPharmacology MentorPharmacology Mentor
  • Home
  • Bookmarks
  • Pages
    • Terms and conditions
    • Submit a Topic or Chapter
    • Ask for a topic
    • Copyright Statement
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • About
  • Quizzes
    • Quiz on Antihyperlipidemics
    • Quiz on Antihypertensives
    • Quiz on Antiarrhythmics
    • Quiz on Drugs for CCF
    • Practice Quizzes on Antidiabetic drugs
    • Practice Quizzes on Drugs used in GI Disorders
    • CVS Post lab Quiz
    • Quiz on Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
    • Drugs acting on CNS – All CNS topics EXCEPT NSAIDs
    • Drugs acting on ANS
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy: Antiprotozoal and antihelminthic drugs
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antimalarial Drugs
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antiviral and antifungal drugs
    • OC Pills
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antibacterials
  • Blog
  • Chapters
    • General
    • CVS
    • Antimicrobial
    • Neuropharmacology
    • ANS
    • PNS
    • GI
    • Endocrine
    • Hematology
    • miscellaneous
Search
  • Advertise
© 2024 Pharmacology Mentor. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Antiarrhythmic drugs: Flecainide (Class 1C)
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Pharmacology MentorPharmacology Mentor
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Bookmarks
  • Terms and conditions
  • Submit a Topic or Chapter
  • Ask for a topic
  • Copyright Statement
  • Contact
  • Quizzes
    • Quiz on Antihyperlipidemics
    • Quiz on Antiarrhythmics
    • Quiz on Drugs for CCF
    • Quiz on Antihypertensives
    • Practice Quizzes on Antidiabetic drugs
    • Practice Quizzes on Drugs used in GI Disorders
    • Quiz on Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
    • Drugs acting on CNS – All CNS topics EXCEPT NSAIDs
    • NSAIDs
    • CVS Post lab Quiz
    • Drugs acting on ANS
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antimalarial Drugs
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy: Antiprotozoal and antihelminthic drugs
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antiviral and antifungal drugs
    • OC Pills
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antibacterials
  • About
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2024 Pharmacology Mentor. All Rights Reserved.
Pharmacology Mentor > Blog > Pharmacology > CVS > Antiarrhythmic drugs: Flecainide (Class 1C)
CVSPharmacology

Antiarrhythmic drugs: Flecainide (Class 1C)

Last updated: 2024/03/12 at 4:39 AM
Pharmacology Mentor 6 Views
Share
3 Min Read
Flecainide
SHARE

Introduction

Flecainide is an antiarrhythmic agent classified under subgroup 1C. It is a potent blocker of sodium and potassium channels with slow unblocking kinetics. While it is effective in treating certain types of arrhythmias, its use is associated with significant risks, including a potential increase in mortality. This article will explore the mechanism of action, risks, and therapeutic uses of flecainide.

Contents
IntroductionMechanism of ActionTherapeutic UsesRisks and LimitationsPharmacokineticsConclusion

Mechanism of Action

Flecainide
  • Sodium and Potassium Channel Blockade: Flecainide effectively blocks both sodium and potassium channels, albeit with slow unblocking kinetics.
  • No QT Interval Prolongation: Unlike some other antiarrhythmic agents, flecainide does not prolong the action potential or the QT interval.
  • No Antimuscarinic Effects: Flecainide does not have antimuscarinic properties.

Therapeutic Uses

  • Supraventricular Arrhythmias: Flecainide is used for patients with otherwise normal hearts who suffer from supraventricular arrhythmias.
  • Premature Ventricular Contractions: The drug is very effective in suppressing premature ventricular contractions.

Risks and Limitations

  • Exacerbation of Arrhythmia: Flecainide can severely exacerbate arrhythmias, even at normal doses, in patients with preexisting ventricular tachyarrhythmias and those with a history of myocardial infarction and ventricular ectopy.
  • Increased Mortality: The Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST) was terminated prematurely due to a two and one-half-fold increase in mortality rate among patients receiving flecainide and similar group 1C drugs.

Pharmacokinetics

  • Absorption and Half-Life: Flecainide is well absorbed and has a half-life of approximately 20 hours.
  • Elimination: The drug is eliminated both by hepatic metabolism and by the kidneys.
  • Dosage: The usual dosage of flecainide is 100–200 mg twice a day.

Conclusion

Flecainide is a potent antiarrhythmic agent with specific indications, particularly for treating supraventricular arrhythmias in patients with otherwise normal hearts. However, its use comes with significant risks, including the potential for exacerbating existing arrhythmias and increasing mortality. Therefore, flecainide should be used cautiously and under close medical supervision, taking into account its pharmacokinetics and the specific needs of the patient.

Note: This article is intended for educational purposes and should not be considered as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for medical advice and treatment.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

You Might Also Like

Pharmacology of Antiviral Drugs

Pharmacotherapy of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Broad spectrum antibiotics – Tetracyclines and Chloramphenicol

Pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction

Pharmacotherapy of migraine

TAGGED: Flecainide, Pharmacology

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Previous Article Mexiletine Antiarrhythmic drugs: Mexiletine (Class 1B)
Next Article Propafenone Antiarrhythmic drugs: Propafenone (Class 1C)
1 Review 1 Review
  • Antiarrhythmic Drugs | Pharmacology Mentor says:

    […] IC: Flecainide, […]

    Reply

Leave a review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please select a rating!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most Popular Posts

  1. Drug Nomenclature: Drug Naming system (Dr. Ambadasu Bharatha) (550)
  2. Routes of Drug Administration: A detailed overview (Pharmacology Mentor) (447)
  3. Routes of Drug Administration (Pharmacology Mentor) (426)
  4. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) – A Comprehensive Guide (Pharmacology Mentor) (394)
  5. First-Order vs. Zero-Order Kinetics: What You Need to Know (Pharmacology Mentor) (330)
  6. Pharmacology Definitions and Terminology (Pharmacology Mentor) (291)
  7. Enzyme inducers: How they are important in the clinical pharmacology? (Pharmacology Mentor) (282)
  8. Drug Potency and Efficacy (Pharmacology Mentor) (261)
  9. Unlock the Power of Mnemonics in Pharmacology (anonymous) (240)
  10. Factors Affecting Oral Drug Absorption and its Bioavailability (Pharmacology Mentor) (231)

Categories

  • ANS26
  • Antimicrobial35
  • Clinical Pharmacology4
  • CVS31
  • Endocrine21
  • Featured15
  • General47
  • GI15
  • Hematology13
  • miscellaneous28
  • Neuropharmacology38
  • Pharmacology261
  • PNS2
  • Reproductive System10
  • Respiratory System7

Tags

Adverse effects Antibiotics Antiplatelet Drugs Aspirin Benzodiazepines beta-blockers Bioavailability Bipolar disorder calcium channel blockers Carbamazepine Clinical trials contraindications Coronary artery disease Dosage DRC drug absorption Drug Administration Drug classification drug design Drug development Drug discovery Drug Dosage Drug efficacy Drug formulation Drug interactions Drug metabolism Drug regulation Drugs Drug safety Generic drugs Headache Hypertension mechanism of action Medication Myocardial infarction Neurotransmitters Norepinephrine Pharmacodynamics Pharmacokinetics Pharmacological actions Pharmacology Pharmacovigilance Side effects Therapeutic uses Treatment

Latest Articles

antiretroviral drugs
Pharmacology of Antiviral Drugs
Antimicrobial Pharmacology May 1, 2025
Featured image on Diabetes
Pharmacotherapy of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Endocrine Pharmacology April 24, 2025
broad-spectrum antibiotics - tetracyclines
Broad spectrum antibiotics – Tetracyclines and Chloramphenicol
Antimicrobial Pharmacology March 28, 2025
Pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction
Pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction
miscellaneous Pharmacology January 28, 2025

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
//

Pharmacology Mentor is dedicated to serving as a useful resource for as many different types of users as possible, including students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in understanding pharmacology.

Quick Link

  • Terms and conditions
  • Copyright Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ask for a topic
  • Submit a Topic or Chapter
  • Contact

Top Categories

  • Pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial
  • Neuropharmacology
  • Endocrine
  • Reproductive System
  • miscellaneous

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Pharmacology MentorPharmacology Mentor
Follow US
© 2024 Pharmacology Mentor. All Rights Reserved.
Pharmacology Mentor
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?